Fort finishes seventh

TIFFIN, Ohio — It’s hard to believe the first 200 yards of a 3.1-mile race can make much of an impact.
But in a race with 131 girls stretched across the start line, those first few steps can make all the difference.
Fort Recovery’s runners got trapped in the pack at the beginning of Saturday’s race and ended their season with a seventh-place finish at the Division III regional cross country meet at Hedges-Boyer Park.
“They got caught at the beginning, which was a fear that I had,” said FRHS coach Michelle Stammen. “They just got caught behind some packs and they couldn’t get around and it just affected their race.
“I’m still very, very proud of them. They ran well today. They represented Fort Recovery well today. And I know that they will work hard and put the effort in to come back next year and have one of those top four spots.”
The top four teams and top 16 individuals in the race advanced to the state finals, which will be contested Saturday at National Trail Raceway in Hebron.
The Indians, who were ninth last season, scored 227 points to finish 11 ahead of eighth-place Hopewell-Loudon in the 16-team field. It was their best regional finish since placing sixth in the meet at Troy in 2005.
Top-ranked Coldwater scored 50 points to earn the regional crown by three over No. 2 Liberty Center. No. 7 Liberty-Benton (120) took third place, and Ashland Crestview (121) finished fourth.
Brittany Atkinson of Liberty Center took the individual title in 18 minutes, 46.7 seconds ahead of Coldwater freshman Sarah Kanney (19:09.54).
The race simply did not start well for the Indians, who were in the center of the long start line.
Elle Sutter, who was seeded 15th, got caught up in the middle and was in 50th place early on. Two miles later she had worked her way all the way up to 19th, needing to pass three more runners to earn another trip to the state finals.
She got one of them, but fell 13 seconds short of a state berth as she finished 18th in 20:25.85. Liberty Center’s Kelly Haubert was the No. 16 runner in 20:12.46.
“That speaks volumes of her character,” said Stammen of Sutter’s effort after the rough start. “She’s just a fighter. She never gives up. She keeps working. … That girls just doesn’t have any quit in her.
“I’m hoping she doesn’t take it as a disappointment … She needs to be proud of her accomplishment. She made the (All-Midwest Athletic Conference) team, and just missed going to state for the second year in a row. I’m extremely proud of her …”
Sutter reached the state finals last season as a freshman, finishing 52nd.
Abby May and Jessica Vogel ran side-by-side for most of the regional race, with May crossing the finish line in 21:41.3 for 57th place. Vogel was seeded 59th and finished 59th in 21:53.01.
Sam Tobe crossed the line in 22:34 for 79th place, and Nicole Heitkamp capped the team score in 92nd with a time of 23:05.22.
“They really did run well. I am pleased with the whole team,” said Stammen. “They had a great season. …
“They are all, I’m sure, very disappointed, because their goal was to get one of those top four spots. But they did the best they could do today, and that’s all that any coach can ask for, that they give their very best effort, and I know that they did that.”
Also running for the Indians Saturday were Christen Wendel (95th – 23:10.73) and freshman Kara Jutte (102nd – 23:32).
The regional marked the final career meet for seniors Heitkamp and Wendel. Heitkamp became the first runner in the history of FRHS cross country to run in the meet in each of her four seasons.
“I am really going to miss her,” said Stammen of Heitkamp. “She is a quiet leader. She doesn’t say a whole lot, but she definitely leads by example.
“And Christen Wendel just brings a spirit and energy to the team. She’s always very positive. She has just been a doll to coach as well the last four years.
“I am going to miss both of those girls tremendously.”[[In-content Ad]]